New electric motorbike brand launched in South Africa – What’s available

VMoto Soco (VSSA) has officially opened its doors in South Africa, offering a range of six electric motorcycles.

The line-up includes three battery-powered scooters, two cafe racer-esque street bikes, and one off-roader. The brand’s entry-level option, the CUX scooter, is priced at R53,100.

VSSA is a new division of the FI Group, a multinational business that has vested interests in the automotive industry, specifically in electric vehicles, VSSA brand manager Tim Eccles told Engineering News.

A joint venture between Australian-owned VMoto and Chinese manufacturer Super Soco, VMoto Soco was formed in 2020 with a focus on manufacturing and distributing electric two-wheelers globally.

“We wanted to ensure that the brand we chose had longevity and scalability. It needed to be globally established, tried-and-tested, and with a strong view to the future,” said Eccles.

“VMoto Soco fits the bill – they are a European top-seller. They also have a versatile range, with the promise of staying at the forefront of this rapidly developing industry. They’re also beautifully designed and the build quality is excellent.”

VMoto Soco was the most popular electric motorcycle badge in France in 2020, the brand accounted for a third of electric motorcycle sales in the UK in 2021, and the TC Max was the best-selling electric bike in Germany in 2022.

“Now it’s South Africa’s turn to experience the clean, quiet power of electric innovation, and the reliability and performance of a global leader,” said the company.

“Our first shipment is here, but stock stock is limited.”

Eccles noted that South Africa is increasingly being flooded with new electric brands, many of them startups, and that both the technology and the market have arrived at a point where the previous barriers to entry, such as limited infrastructure and questionable design, have sufficiently toppled to make these battery-powered bikes “a highly attractive and effective choice of transport.”

What’s available

The specifications of the various VMoto Soco electric motorcycles are detailed below.

Each bike is sold with its own fast charger that fits standard South African plug sockets and takes approximately three-and-a-half hours to charge a single battery. Recharge costs range anywhere from R6 to R15, depending on the model, said Eccles.

The VMoto range is currently on sale at three dealerships in Cape Town, one in Knysna, and online.

TC Max

TC Wanderer

CPX Pro

F01

CUX

Off-R